Evans, who played more than 100 times for the Welsh All Blacks and captained them last season, is keen to help educate other rugby players, especially on the need to be fully aware of the contents of any supplements or medications taken while playing rugby.
Mr Evans, 32, tested positive for drostanolone, an anabolic steroid following an out-of-competition test on 28 July 2014. The player is banned from all competition sport from 28 July 2014 to 27 July 2016 (ukad.org.uk).
Evans, who has already completed a UKAD anti-doping advisor’s course, and will now work with the WRU to deliver education to players, said, “While I did not set out to cheat in any way, I was naïve and I have suffered as a result.
“I failed a drugs test after taking supplements without making the appropriate checks as to whether they contained banned substances.
“The consequences are heart-breaking for me but it goes to show that supplements can cause failed drugs test. After what has happened to me, I’d like to help ensure that doesn’t happen to others in the game and that all players are fully aware of the importance of checking each and every ingredient contained in the supplements. Anyone who doesn’t do this puts themselves at risk.”
UKAD Director of Legal Graham Arthur added: “Mr Evans maintained that the banned substance had entered his body because of the supplements he was taking. While the panel agreed that there was some evidence to support Mr Evans’s claim, it concluded that he hadn’t undertaken any serious research into the supplements which contained prohibited substances. This failure has resulted in a two year ban.
“Supplements are a known risk and there is no guarantee that they are ever free from banned substances. If an athlete chooses to take a supplement, they should always undertake thorough research before use.”
The Welsh Rugby Union launched a nationwide anti-doping campaign in December to raise awareness of intentional and non-intentional doping.
It included a new section on the WRU website – www.wru.co.uk/antidoping – with clear advice to help inform players and support staff of the rules and regulations with regards to doping including the new World Anti-Doping Code that came into force on January 1. There are links to help players check any medication and supplements they may be thinking of taking to ensure they are not on the prohibited substances list.
As part of the campaign, Wales captain Sam Warburton produced a video message, calling on everyone involved in the game in Wales to protect our sport so that every player has the right to compete with and against other clean players. Click here to view the video.
All clubs, players and support personnel have been written to, to highlight the new World Anti-Doping Code which includes two additional Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) along with greatly increased sanctions for breaching the Code.
There are now four year bans for cheating involving serious doping substances (eg steroids, growth hormone, EPO) and refusal or evading sample collection. The new ADRVs cover Complicity – helping another person to cover up an ADRV or avoid detection – and Prohibited Association – associating with a person such as a coach, doctor or physio who has been found guilty of a doping violation such as providing banned substances.
It was stressed in the letters that here is no room in the Code for carelessness or not knowing, and players are encouraged to check the prohibited lists, found via wru.co.uk/antidoping which include over-the-shelf medication and supplements.
The WRU advises all its National Squads on anti-doping and ensures the professional regions and semi-professional clubs are fully aware of their responsibility to educate their players of the UK anti-doping rules and regulations. Players who are on the international pathway also have to complete World Rugby’s e-learning course.
Since the launch of the campaign at the end of last year, it has trained its coach development officers and school-club hub officers to become anti-doping advisors and educators so they can deliver the Anti-Doping education and set up training for volunteers in clubs to become anti-doping advisors.
The Welsh Rugby Union works closely with UKAD and testing is carried out at international, professional and semi-professional matches and training. Out of Competition Testing occurs at amateur level if UKAD receive intelligence of a player committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said, “The Welsh Rugby Union takes anti-doping offences very seriously and condemns any violation of anti-doping rules.
“We encourage anyone who has any intelligence of doping taking place to speak out and call the UKAD Report Doping in Sport number – tel 0800 032 2332, go to www.reportdoping.com or email anti-doping@wru.co.uk ”
